FDLE: Terrorists in Florida need to be stopped

Florida's top cop has issued a strong warning about terrorism here at home.

FDLE Commissioner Richard Swearingen told lawmakers that terrorists are in Florida and likely planning an attack.

Swearingen said he needs millions of dollars to hire new officers to sniff out the terrorists. It's so serious that he needs 46 more counterterrorism experts.

Those new hires will cost taxpayers $6.4 million but Swearingen warned not doing so could put those living in the Sunshine State at risk.

It was a peaceful Thursday afternoon in downtown Fort Myers as people shopped and dined in 80-degree temperatures.

Ruth Sayther of Fort Myers said she actually feels safe downtown.

That wasn't the case for thousands of people in October 2015 after mass chaos broke out during a Zombicon event. A gunman opened fire in the streets, killing one and injuring six others.

While it wasn't an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack, some call it a homegrown terror attack.

“Anything can happen. Like we're sitting here now and you never know if something would break out right now,” said Ken Harris of Fort Myers.

The FDLE commissioner agreed when he spoke in Tallahassee on Wednesday.

“We know that terrorists are here. Either plotting against Florida or using our state as a location to train, raise money and plan attacks,” Swearingen warned.

That warning was not a surprise to some folks in Southwest Florida.

“I shouldn't be surprised there are terrorists here. I think they're everywhere, to be honest with you,” Harris said.

Swearingen wants to hire 46 new counterterrorism experts.

“I think keeping a strong police force is good, but I think it has more to do with civilians on a daily basis as the eyes and ears and also our own personal defense system,” said Matthew Wimer of East Naples.

“If we don't get our community involved to report suspicious activity, we're not going to be successful here,” Swearingen said.

“That would be nice if that was the case, but i don't think most people pay that much attention to things,” said Gary Groth of Fort Myers.

Groth agreed with spending the $6.4 million to hire new officers, who would be dispersed around the state in hopes that scenes like the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting that left 49 dead and 53 injured can be avoided.

“We would like to catch these folks before an explosion, not after an explosion,” Swearingen concluded.

The commissioner stopped short of saying that either the Pulse Nightclub attack or the Fort Lauderdale Airport shooting could have been prevented if he had the 46 new officers.

2018-02-17T00:32:55Z2018-02-17T00:32:55ZConfessed Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz intends to plead guilty, Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein said Friday. Finkelstein said the object is to avoid a painful trial and for Cruz not to get the death penalty.